The Bond of Pain: Installment 2

Installment 2
Episodes 4 - 6
Revision 1.0
Original Release Date: March 31, 1998

Copyright 1998 Austin Rogers

4. Weapons of the Sun

At New Barcelona, Estaban, Zia, Tao, and Kukapetl are pretty much locked in one of the minor pyramids. Joaquin enters and turns on a monitor, which is displaying news of an attack on Atlantic Boston, and an Atlantean counter-attack. He confesses that he has no idea what to do, and has entrusted his War Leader to direct the fighting.

Joaquin also shows them a picture, which the children mistake for Zia. Tears well up in Joaquin as he explains.

The girl's name was Lorna. Their parents had arranged a marriage between Joaquin and Lorna many years earlier. Joaquin had really loved Lorna, and plans for their wedding were taking shape. Then, Lorna had died in a shuttle crash.

Esteban and Zia explain about their parents to Joaquin, and ask him about his parents. Joaquin explains that his father left when he was very young, and that he never knew his mother.

Tao jeers at Joaquin, Esteban, and Zia. He verbally lashes out at Joaquin, telling him that he has no right to lock them up. As Joaquin turns to exit the room, Tao says that he hopes that the Heva Empire totally destroys the Atlantean Alliance.

After Joaquin has gone, Esteban and Zia ask Tao to stop antagonizing Joaquin. This starts an arguement, which degenerates into threats and finally ends with Tao turning his back and ignoring them.

Meanwhile, a terrible war is raging. New Barcelona is not attacked, but several other cities on both sides are. Flying battleships (smaller than the Totonac), Solaris fleets, silver condors, and ground assault armies are used.

The next morning, Joaquin announces that the repairs on the Totonac are complete, and that he is going out on a military expedition. Estaban, Zia, and (surprisingly) Tao ask to join him. Joaquin explains that it it will be a dangerous strike on Heva bases in South America and Antarctica, and they might all lose their lives, but they still want to come.

The Totonac leaves New Barcelona, and heads southwest.

5. Tao's Jar

Hovering over the cold Antarctic Sea, the Atlantean fleet is gathering forces. The Totonac is by far the largest battleship.

Esteban, Zia, and Joaquin are in a small room just off to the side of the Totonac's command bridge. Joaquin shows Esteban and Zia an artifact, which they recognize as Tao's jar (a vital component in Heva fusion reactor.) Joaquin decides to give it to Tao, as a sign of friendship. Esteban says that Tao isn't acting normally, but that having his jar returned to him might improve his attitude.

A security contingent bursts in, with four people under arrest: two officers, a telepath, and Tao. They were found commiting acts of sabatoge to the external sensors and communication systems. All external sensors are down, and will take some time to repair.

Joaquin orders the four sabateurs confined and all ships checked for damage and repaired. Before these orders are begun, the Heva fleet attacks.

A long arduous battle ensues. The Totonac is the strongest ship in the battle on either side, but the sabatoge has rendered it nearly useless. The battle stretches out far in every direction. Both sides receive heavy casualties.

After much of the Atlanten fleet is destroyed, Joaquin realizes that there is no hope for the Atlantean Alliance. He transmits a surrender message to the Heva Emperor. He and a few of his officers fly in a shuttle to a Solaris ship, where the Heva Emperor is commanding, to discuss the terms of the Atlantean surrender.

They agree that the Heva will begin to occupy Atlantean territory in three days, and that they will be met with no resistance.

Joaquin returns to the Totonac and releases Tao from the brig. He also gives Tao the jar, and then leaves.

Esteban finds Joaquin in a room with transparent walls near the Totonac's rear. Joaquin weeps for Atlantis.

6. Emperor of Heva

After an emergency session of the Atlantean High Council, Chancellor Joaquin addresses the whole world. He explains that the Atlantean Alliance has officially surrendered to the Heva Empire, and announces the planned take-over date.

Tao is haughtily bragging to Esteban and Zia about the Heva victory when Joaquin walks into their room in New Barcelona. He tells them that he has resigned his position as Chancellor of the High Council. But, before he resigned, the High Council, which must approve all time travel, approved his plan to return to the 16th century with Esteban, Zia, and Tao.

In the Toltec's Condor Bay, both the Golden Condor and Joaquin's personal silver condor are serviced and ready to go. Tao is cold and rude to everybody, especially to Joaquin.

A special mechanism focuses light onto the two condors, and they take off. Unknown to the other children, Joaquin's Condor is stocked with many supplies. Per Joaquin's instructions, Esteban pushes an unlabeled button. Both condors rise into the sky sharply, and then go into a nosedive. They are pulled back through time, to the 16th century. Prepared this time, Esteban is able to level out the condor and land it.

Joaquin lands his silver condor beside the Golden Condor. He climbs into the Golden Condor's cockpit and begins to show Esteban the basics of how to use the controls. He pulls up a map on the viewscreen, showing that they are much further north than the children had been before the accidental time jump. He also pulls up a date, and tells them that they are back to the same day that the children went forward in time.

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